One of the things that can bring us back to our childhood is to travel in a vintage train. The magic and charm of this means of transport is unparalleled by any other, except perhaps, the wonderful experience of crossing the ocean with a big boat. But let’s go back to the train. The journey by train from the centre of Madrid to El Escorial is a perfect experience for any tourist visiting Madrid for the first time. You get to see representative areas of Spain’s capital. And that is why today, ShMadrid will tell you all about the Felipe II train.
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Travel to another era with the Felipe II train
Photo via Visualhunt
The Felipe II train is a means of transport for tourist purposes, that travels from Madrid to El Escorial. The train starts its journey at the Príncipe Pío station and passes the Sierra de Guadarrama until reaching El Escorial. The municipality of El Escorial houses one of the heritage jewels of the region of Madrid, El Real Sitio de San Lorenzo del Escorial and the village of El Escorial. The Felipe II train has been restored in an excellent way. It has 4 cars with apartments for 8 people, adorned with beautiful finishes. The train reaches 100 km/h and will provide you with the best views along its route. Both on the inside and on the outside, everything will make you believe you are in another era, specifically the forties. In addition, the employees working on the train are dressed for the occasion, with the suits worn by workers in the mid-twentieth century. The train starts its journey, and once you get to the outskirts of Madrid, you will pass the towns of Pozuelo, Majadahonda, Las Rozas, Pinar de Las Rozas, Las Matas, Torrelodones, Galapagar-La Navata, Villalba-Guadarrama and, the final stop, El Escorial. On the Felipe II train’s website you can choose the different travel packages and, if you wish, you can even book tailor-made trips with personalized experiences. You can also book the entire train for special occasions or events.
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Photo via Visualhunt
Apart from the train journey, this trip has many other attractions. You can visit the patrimonial complex of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, an architectural and cultural jewel from the region of Madrid. Undoubtedly, this is an alternative to the typical visits to the capital of Spain, something that can be very interesting for both national and international tourists, as well as for the citizens of Madrid and its region, who wish to know their own architectural and cultural heritage. The name of the train, Felipe II, is intimately related to the history of El Escorial, because the monarch Felipe II was the one who initiated the works on the monastery of El Escorial. His life also found its end in this place, since Felipe II died in the Monastery of El Escorial on September 13, 1598.
*Main photo by profesorxproyect via Visualhunt
Have you been on the Felipe II train before? What did you think of the trip?
